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Creative Recruiting Strategies to Attract Better Candidates

Ella Baker
Creative Recruiting Strategies to Attract Better Candidates
Reading time 6 Mins
Published on Jun 14
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Utilizing more creative recruiting strategies to attract top talent can mean savings for your company in the long run. US companies spend billions of dollars each year on the hiring and selection process and making the wrong hire will only add to that expense. These innovative approaches can help you find top talent for your open positions.

Employee experience

It’s no secret that your employees are your company’s greatest asset. Did you know that they can also be your greatest recruiting tool? Enlisting the help of your existing workforce is the first of a series of creative recruiting strategies that will not only help you catch the attention of applicants, but also increase employee engagement and loyalty to your company.

Select existing employees to create videos that help potential candidates get a better view of life inside your company. This type of authentic messaging rings true with job seekers in a way that produced videos cannot. By creating a personal connection with existing employee videos, candidates find it easier to feel the excitement at the firm and to become excited about working with you. For specific job postings, add video job descriptions made by team members that not only tell candidates about the position, but also show them the type of work and working environment you offer.

Compared to infographics and job posting, employee stories are more impactful and are remembered for a longer period of time by candidates. Encourage employees to submit short videos that can be posted to social media or job boards. While all videos should be reviewed prior to posting, this less corporate messaging will have a positive impact on the type of candidates you receive for positions.

Freelancers

With the modern economy moving more toward “gig work”, the utilization of freelancers has been on the rise. When budgets and projects present constraints, the next option in this series of recruiting strategies is to consider the benefits that a freelancer can bring to your business.

More employees than ever list work-life balance and flexible scheduling as a priority for them in the job-hunting process. Take advantage of these desires by recruiting freelancers to fill temporary or budget-constrained positions. Freelancers can offer your company expertise and talent at a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee, while adding to your pool of potential future employees. Both you and your freelancer will have the opportunity to see how well you work together, which could lead to a long-term partnership or eventual hiring as a regular employee.

Hang out online with candidates

Getting your positions posted to job boards shouldn’t be your only foray into the world of online recruitment. Many job seekers frequent online forums and message boards that relate to their industry or profession. Spending time where your candidates live online can help you identify creative talent that may not have otherwise found you.

Industry blogs and message boards offer a glimpse into what potential targets are talking about and what matters to them in a position. Don’t be afraid to engage in the comments sections. Asking those within the industry what they want most in their career will help you be able to tailor your position to attract better talent. These conversations can lead to greater insight into your eventual candidate pool and give you leads for who to recruit.

Go beyond Facebook and Twitter for more in-depth discussions. Reddit offers subreddits for every topic and industry under the sun and is a great place to turn to if you’re new to hanging out with candidates online. If you’re looking for specific specialists or to fill niche positions, try question-and-answer sites related to your position. You want to be in the space with the talent you’re seeking. When you spend time in these virtual spaces, you are better able to communicate with candidates in a way that resonates with them and this strategy helps you achieve that.

Host a coffee bar happy hour

Most candidates apply for positions with companies after conducting some online research into past employee reviews or customer interactions, with very little inside knowledge of the office or work environment. Giving your potential talent a glimpse into your company in an informal setting can help them begin to engage with you in a way that is more authentic and productive.

Along with your job posting, issue an open invitation to anyone interested in the position. An after-hours coffee bar happy hour offers many benefits for both you and job seekers. You will be able to interact with potential candidates in a less formal setting that allows you to discover more about them and their talents. Job seekers will be able to see your work environment firsthand and get to talk to existing employees and managers about the company without the adding pressures of an interview.

This kind of engagement will allow you and your candidates to make a more informed decision about whether to move forward to the interview stage. You will know that those who attended are more genuinely interested in the role with your company.

Try these innovative recruiting strategies to help attract top talent

While this is not an exhaustive list of creative recruiting strategies by any means, they are a few out-of-the-box options that you, as an employer, have in order to better reach the best candidates out there. Plotting out your recruiting strategies isn’t always the easiest or most intuitive task for small and mid-size businesses.

With more than 115 years of combined experience, Sheakley’s HR team can help you determine the best course of action to achieve your company’s goals. Through Sheakley’s PEO, we offer many services that are essential and considered an important foundation for a successful business. This includes helping employers protect their most important assets, their employees, all the way from hire to retire. You maintain complete direction and control over the hiring process while Sheakley is there to provide you with consultative and administrative support to help guide you through that process.

Get your free HR consultation with a Sheakley representative today. Stay up-to-date on all things Sheakley by subscribing to our blog and following us on social media. Join in the discussion by commenting below.


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